Last thing before I order something

[jim]

Guys,

For the sake of my paranoia, will 310hp from you know who blow up my lovely smooth auto box (2001) or make it shift like medieval cart arrangment (geared one obviously).

Everyone seems to have manuals; is auto really bad?

Help.............


Jim

[Mrsmopp]

300 brake will cause no damage to your engine. The T5 is downtuned coming out of the factory and the engine can take up to around 340 to 350bhp without causing any problems to the engine.

Dave is an Auto and he will vouch for the auto box - it takes the ECU upgrade very well!!!!!

x

[Wobbly Dave]

Auto boxes by design are inherently stronger than manuals, as in the plantery gear system, the cogs are always in contact with each other (no dog teeth or synchro mesh). In any case, in the Volvo - they are both immensely strong. The first things to go on the T5 are the connecting rods and the drive shafts - and you need some whelly to do that - over 350bhp as Adam at VT will testify!

[Wobbly Dave]

BTW Jim - if you are in any doubt I would be happy to show you how the rica behaves in the auto. Where are you exactly?

[jim]

So the box should be ok, the engine should be ok, deal done. (only the driver to worry about)

Dave, like to see the 850R, I aim to be tricked up for the next meet. Ps i'm new to volvo's whats the R for and do i need one?

Did I see the 17/10 somewhere?

I only have 16in wheels at the mo, they spin all the time (may need to check the tyres hmm) any good volvo sites for spares/wheels? i saw some nice ones on a 52 plate v70 in london going the other way yesterday; looked like 18's?

cheers,

jim

[Wobbly Dave]

I am based in Birmingham (as my location suggests :wink: )

I am keen to do another mini tour of the UK again - especially now as "She who must be reved up" is ready to rock and roll again!

A quick lesson in the T5 time line.
The 850 was introduced in the early nineties - taking over from the 900 series.
The T5 engine (short for 5 cylinder turbo) was the first power plant to come out of gothenburg to seriously put Volvo on the performance map!

B5234FT - 850, T5/R, S/V 70
Configuration: DOHC Inline 5-cylinder
Displacement: 2.319 liters
SAE Net Output: 225 Bhp
Notes: Reduced bore, turbocharged variant of B5254 engine.
http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/Volvo_Books/B5234FT.gif

in 1995 a limited edition - so called T5-R was born. The first batch came out in this colour
http://www.bigredvolvos.co.uk/images/rwyb_aug_04/mouthy_blond.jpg
(this is julies) or Black. TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) from the successful BTCC tour of 1995, were influential in the production of this limited run
Cick here for more (http://home.swipnet.se/850-styling/btcc.htm)

They had a new ecu map producing a standard 240bhp
and were lowered (by 15mm)
and had the distinctive R lip on the from splitter
and loads of extras

Finally, they dropped the T5 from the naming convention - and a few more tweaks happened - hence the 850R in 1996/7. Volvo stopped making the 850 in 1998. The V70 took over the estate and the S70 took over from the Saloon side of things.

Anyway the "R" brand is now marketed by Volvo as the big flagship racing model thing. As such the R is branded on to wheels...
http://www.bigredvolvos.co.uk/images/v70R/rims.jpg

and other stuff

http://www.bigredvolvos.co.uk/images/v70R/engine.jpg

This is the new engine as found in the new S60R and V70R

B5244FT R5 - S60R
Configuration: DOHC Inline 5-cylinder
Displacement: 2.4 liters
SAE Net Output: 300 Bhp
Notes: Reduced bore, high performance turbocharged variant of B5254 engine.

[Justin]

Excellent post mate, well done :worship:

[Wobbly Dave]

Y'see - I am not as daft as I look

:bow_kneel

(thanks J - praise indeed!)

BTW the engine naming convention B5234FT I understand that the 5 is the number of cylinders and 23 stands for 2.3, namely the capacity and 4 is the number of valve per cylinder. Does anyone know what the B is for? or the FT? (full turbo? perhaps?)

The majority of the R's and later model V70's/S60's will have 17" wheels (for some strange reason mine has 16s???). 17" Titan's (straight 5 spoke alloys) are probably easier to get than any other.
Salvo in Derbyshire (http://www.salvogroup.co.uk/) are pretty good for that kinda thing.

Tyre choice is important - a topic much discussed amongst the T5 fraternity. Vredestein Sportrac2 seem to perform well in both wet and dry. Pirelli Pzero's are the Volvo recommended choice. I have P6000's and they are hard wearing but not that grippy. I believe J has a set of continental's on at the moment. Wheel size will not alter the footprint that much because the smaller wheels will tend to have tyres with higher walls. The added bonus of this is that it smooths out bumps and is less likely to kurb the wheels.

[Justin]

Your superior knowledge is really showing now mate, you can have the new title of Forum tech specialist lol

[Wobbly Dave]

I just listen to what people tell me and it kinda sticks.

Anyway you taught me a lot of this stuff! :worship:

[jim]

Anyone would think you guys are into volvo's and know your stuff.

Now i want shiney things with R on them......

Thanks for the info, quite a long heritage in the nutter turbo thing then volvo.

I'm in Newport for a stop on the tour where the roads smooth and free from camera's. (OK may not be true in all cases but there is a patch of good tarmac in Asda in the disabled bay and I know where the cameras are...I hope)

I have seen a few others (T5's) around here but have yet to find out who they are. There is a blue 850 with full bodykit and loud exhaust and what looks like an ex police v70 V reg...i hope! I always seem to see them going the other way at speed. If these sound familiar or you know them let me know.

Hope to speak to RICA man today so getting a bit over excited at the min.

My auto box has a W setting on th switch to the left of the lever for winter driving etc. I take it this whole set of gearbox settings is managed electronically? This could then possibly be reprogrammed to someones own requirements?

Cheers,

jim

[Justin]

Its all done by magic in your Jim, :wizardtro

The beauty of modern technology lol.

Im not sure on the reprogramming but ask volvotuning as they may well know.

[Wobbly Dave]

There are 3 settings econ, sport and Winter. Winter setting just means that the box will start out in 2nd gear to minimise wheel spin on slippy surfaces (such as Asda car parks? :shifty: )

The auto's have an additional computer for the gear change - it sits next to the ECU inside that black box just behind the wash/wipe reservoir filler tube on the offside of the engine bay.

I am not sure reprogramming is a good idea - the gear changes are already set at certain points for set engine loads. Do you feel that they could be improved? Especially with RICA it becomes unnecessary to use the sports mode as the thing flies in all settings!